This fascinating journey focuses on Italy’s most celebrated treasures: the “Eternal City” of Rome, home of the “dolce vita,” and the verdant hilly landscape of Tuscany with its medieval and Renaissance heritage. Your vacation begins with two overnights in Rome and guided sightseeing that introduces you to the city’s highlights. Traveling northward, your base in Tuscany is the spa town of Montecatini, where you’ll spend four nights. It is ideally situated for discovering Florence with its Renaissance masterpieces, Pisa with its Leaning Tower, Siena and San Gimignano with their medieval castles and towers, and olive groves and vineyards from which celebrated olive oil and Chianti wines are produced. Heading back south, stop at St. Francis’ Assisi before arriving back in Rome. This is an unforgettable journey to please the eyes and taste buds!

Destinations & Sightseeing

Individual headsetsInside visits and special features:Shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description including admission charges where applicable.Sightseeing:Visits to Greve in Chianti, Montecatini, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Assisi

Guides:

Local Guides for city sightseeing in Rome, Florence; professional Tour Director while touring

Scenic Highlights: Chianti Valley

The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation:

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

Itinerary

Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description.

Day 1 Arrival in Rome, Italy

Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this ancient capital. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

Day 2 Rome

The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive, exciting, and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in ST. PETER'S SQUARE, followed by a visit to the ROMAN FORUM and the mighty COLOSSEUM. Time, too, for your own exploring, shopping, or just relaxing at a sidewalk café.

Breakfast

Day 3 Rome–Greve–Pisa–Montecatini

Today, leave Rome, heading north through the famous Chianti vineyards. Stop in the village of Greve to visit the VICCHIOMAGGIO WINE CELLARS, where a renowned Chianti wine is made. Indulge in an included typical Tuscan LUNCH before heading to Pisa to visit the famous SQUARE OF MIRACLES with the Leaning Tower. Continue to Montecatini, an idyllic spa town conveniently located to explore the best of Tuscany.

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4 Montecatini. Excursion to Siena & San Gimignano

A day of leisure or an opportunity to join an included excursion to visit Siena and San Gimignano. Siena, without a doubt, is Tuscany’s most beloved and inviting city. A walk through its narrow streets lined with medieval palaces into the PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, which is shaped like a fan, is truly a memorable experience. San Gimignano, a hilltop town with more towers than churches, is uniquely situated among vineyards, olive groves, and the delightful Tuscan countryside.

Breakfast

Day 5 Montecatini. Excursion to Florence

Enjoy a full-day excursion to the city known as the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Traffic is banned in part of the historic center, so visitors can wander at leisure and admire Florence’s timeless beauty. The included walking tour with a Local Guide will introduce you to the city’s highlights.

Breakfast

Day 6 Montecatini

A day to relax or do as you please or to join an optional half-day excursion to two of Tuscany’s best-known cities. First to Lucca, renowned for its narrow streets, quaint shops, and magnificent palaces and churches. Next, to Vinci, the birthplace of that true Renaissance genius, Leonardo.

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 7 Montecatini–Assisi–Rome

Travel south today for a first stop in the walled city of Assisi, home of the mystical St. Francis. Marvel at the remarkable treasures of the magnificent BASILICA, then leave this peaceful old town to head across the Apennines to Rome. Celebrate your last evening in Rome by joining the optional farewell dinner.

Breakfast

Day 8 Rome

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast

Tour Director

With Cosmos, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of your Tour Director. Averaging over a decade... we’d like you to meet a Tour Director, who is representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

GIUSEPPE MOZZONI

Escorting tours for more than 10 years

Years of Experience: 10

“There's sage travel advice that "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!" That's my goal...to help every traveler experience Italy through an Italian perspective. We'll get to the heart and soul of each town-the sights, sounds, and flavors that make each place so unique. You'll definitely come away with a better understanding of why we say, "Italians do it better!"”

Optional Excursions

The following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These optional excursions might or might not be offered. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.

Rome

Montecatini

Florence

Rome

Farewell Dinner

Why not round off your Italian experience in the company of new found friends and soak up "la dolce vita" of this romantic but pulsing capital. Dinner will be taken in one of the traditional local Roman restaurants and you can really taste typical Italian specialties with a menu offering a wide choice of both starters and main course and including wine or soft drinks plus mineral water and coffee or tea. During the evening there will be music to add to the romantic atmosphere. After dinner a stop will be made at the Spanish Steps for a short visit. This monumental stairway of 138 steps was built around 1724 and the steps climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. They are said to be the widest staircase in Europe. After the stop return back to the overnight hotel.

Approximate value: 55 EUR per person

Treasures of Rome By Night & Dinner

An early evening tour will show you other aspects of Rome, perhaps not seen on the included sightseeing tour. Either before or after dinner you will have an orientation drive to probably include Castel Sant' Angelo, Palace of Justice, Mausoleum of Augustus, Aurelian walls, Villa Borghese, Via Veneto, Piazza Barberini and Via Nazionale. Dinner will be taken at one of the local restaurants and you can sample a delicious 3 course menu with dessert including local wine and mineral water plus coffee or tea. During the evening there will be music to add to the romantic Roman atmosphere.

Approximate value: 55 EUR per person

Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel

On this fascinating excursion with a local guide you can stroll through the Vatican Museum and marvel at Michaelangelo's famous creation in the Sistine Chapel. The Vatican Museum houses over 2000 rooms and 9 miles of the most extensive collections of art in the world. The Museums are brilliantly decorated and brim over with treasures and history and the local guide will share with you the stories and secrets contained within the Museum's walls. In the Sistine Chapel you can marvel at Michaelangelo's masterpiece, which is perhaps the greatest example of art anywhere and certainly the largest contiguous body by one painter. There are also some lesser masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel which are also worth seeing. PLEASE NOTE: On December 8th the Jubilee will start in Rome. We have been informed that the passage linking the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter's Basilica may be closed. This means that during the optional Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel it may not be possible for the passengers to access the Basilica directly from the Sistine Chapel.

Approximate value: 60 EUR per person

Montecatini

Lucca, Vinci and Olive Oil

After travelling through the lush Tuscan countryside you will arrive at the old town of Lucca, which thanks to its imposing two and a half miles of city-walls still keeps its artistic and historic patrimony untouched. Here you will have time to explore the old streets, see the medieval towers and the enclosed green gardens and marvel at the typical town shops which give this town the exclusive atmosphere of an elegant small state-town. Then rejoin the coach and proceed to Vinci to visit an oil mill in the heart of Tuscany, where you will be given an explanation of the machines and systems plus see a video which illustrates all the phases of the production process from the harvesting of the olives to the pressing and extraction of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil. After the visit you will be able to sample some of the local specialties - "bruschetta" with Extra Virgin olive oil and tomatoes, "crostini" with olive pate plus locally produced wine, mineral water and "Vin Santo". There is the possibility to purchase the Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil and also other local specialties. Later, enjoy a visit to The Leonardo Museum. The Museum was inaugurated on the 15th April 1953 at the conclusion of the celebration of the 5th centennial of Leonardo's birth. The first exhibition was dedicated to models of machines inspired by the designs of Leonardo and over the years it has continually enriched its collection with new materials and models. After a visit of the Museum a short drive will take you to Anchiano to see Leonardo's house, before heading back to the hotel.

Approximate value: 40 EUR per person

Tuscan Dinner

Enjoy a lovely evening out in the Tuscan countryside in a restaurant which is situated on the land of an ancient farm. The farm was completely renewed and the production of the wine and olive oil are open to visitors with traditional Tuscan hospitality. During the winter season the old wine cellar becomes a warm and welcoming dining room. In spring and autumn, weather permitting, one can dine outside and enjoy the warmth of the first or last sunbeams whilst in the summer the ancient surrounding trees offer a cool shelter and the outside lamps create a magical setting. You can sample a good selection of local Tuscan dishes together with a tasting of locally produced wines plus mineral water, coffee and Italian liqueur.

Approximate value: 50 EUR per person

Florence

Uffizi Gallery

Don't miss the chance to visit what is believed to be the earliest museum in Europe. With a local guide you will be taken around the Uffizi Gallery, which is one of the most important art galleries in Italy displaying paintings from every age. The Uffizi Palace was built by Giorgio Vasari at the wishes of Duke Cosimo 1 de Medici as offices of the Medici government. It houses the most significant classical sculptures from the Medici collections and a big selection of Italian and European paintings from 13th to 18th centuries. Admire some classical works of art such as Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", Leonardo's "The Annunciation" and Michelangelo's "Tondo Doni". At the end of the visit with the local guide you will be free to remain in the museum on your own to look around further. Note that the Uffizi Gallery is closed on Mondays.

Approximate value: 35 EUR per person

Know Before You Go

These Know Before You Go travel tips are designed with you in mind, with helpful hints to help you prepare for and enjoy your escorted vacation. They are your guide to getting ready and contain general information on travel documentation, customs, and the country/countries you will be visiting, including budgeting, transportation, climate, languages, and much more. With Globus, you benefit from our experience.

* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).